Grannies for Peace and other community members join the Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace at an anti-racism vigil on Monday, June 22nd at the 4 Corners

Posted on June 23, 2015 by admin

On Monday, June 22, 2015 Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace added the theme of Black Lives Matter and ending racially motivated violence to their weekly Monday vigil at the 4 Corners in Delmar. Since Grannies for Peace had our large and wonderful banners and our “Racism Breaks Grannies’ Hearts” signs from the Tulip Festival vigil we decided to join them in this vigil timed to honor the 9 members of the Emanuel Mother Church slain by a racist gunman in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace has a regular anti-war, pro justice rally every Monday evening from 5 PM to 6 PM and people are always welcome to join them for a few minutes or for the whole hour.

Because people arrived and left at different times it was difficult to estimate the number of participants but from the photos I counted at least 25 people from Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Grannies for Peace, MoveOn, and others from the Capital District peace and justice community.

To avoid the brightly shining sun we occupied three of the 4 corners of Delaware and Kenwood Avenues with signs, banners and our passion for change. The response from drivers and passengers traveling home during drive time was very positive.All photos except the one with Mabel in it were taken by Mabel Leon, our activist photographer. Mabel also brought the Black Lives Matter banner and some of the neck signs made by Kim Kennedy. Many of the BNP members and other community members had signs of their own.

The rest of this article will consist of more photos of the vigil. Click on an individual photo to enlarge it.

Spotlight News Reports on Grannies’ Tulip Fest Vigil

Posted on May 19, 2015 by admin

WAW in the News: Spotlight News Article on “Racism Breaks Grannies’ Hearts” Vigil at Tulip Fest

Report on the Grannies for Peace “Racism Breaks Grannies’ Hearts vigil at the Tulip Fest, 5/8/15 from 1 PM to 2 PM, followed by leafleting.

Posted on May 11, 2015 by admin

Here’s a brief update about our exciting and very successful Grannies for Peace vigil and leafleting at the Tulip Festival on Saturday, May 8th during the Mother’s Day weekend. The photos are from Mabel Leon and Dinah Farrington.
At the end of the article is a link to a longer and more detailed blog article with 20 of Mabel’s photos and more about the leafleting as well.

End Racism Now, photo by Dinah Farrington.

The vigil and leafleting were received with enthusiasm above and beyond any experience that we’ve ever had at our annual Tulip Festival vigils. It was exhilarating and extended not only to the hour long silent vigil itself, but to Grannies walking to and from the vigil site before and after the formal vigil began at 1 PM. If we were wearing our “Racism Breaks Grannies’ Hearts” neck signs young adults came up to us by the tens and asked to take a picture with us.

Black Lives Natter, photo by Dinah Farrington.

Black Lives Matter, photo by Dinah Farrington.

While we were standing, many people came up to us and walked along the whole vigil semi-circle shaking hands, high-fiving each of us, and hugging us. People stopped to thank us constantly. More young adults (Millennials) and slightly older parents were the most responsive, which gives us great hope for the future. There were also people of all races, ethnicities and ages who stopped by. People jumped into the vigil to be photographed and others took selfies in front of us.

The half hour of leafleting was equally exciting. Here’s Mabel’s description:

The leafleting was an amazing experience-people wanted the flyers and the stickers and wanted their photos taken-it was an exhilarating experience. They expressed gratitude for what we were doing… In fact when we walked back to the car, young people on their stoops thanked us and wanted flyers and stickers. Amazing. One woman stopped us on the street and had her young child give us hugs. I have never had an experience quite like this.

Here’s a link to our very simple but direct leaflet about why we were there at the Tulip Festival: Black Lives Matter leaflet 2015 edited for website.

Here again is the link to our Waging Peace blog article, titled “Making Waves ~~~ Grannies’ anti racism message resonates in the Park”

Spotlight News also reported on this event: WAW in the News

Iran Project joined students and faculty at Union for an informational picket, May 5, 2015

Posted on May 8, 2015 by admin

Three part Iran banner at counter demonstration to John Bolton’s lecture at Union College

Informational picket line across from Memorial Chapel before John Bolton spoke at Union College

On Wednesday, May 5, 2015 when John Bolton, former advocate of the war on Iraq and now proponent of bombing Iran to prevent them from acquiring a nuclear weapon, was invited to speak at Union College as part of a lecture series the students and faculty were outraged. They invited Women Against War and other community peace groups to join them in an informational picket. Marcia Hopple of the Iran Project coordinated our presence and invited other groups. Many others helped in communication, photography, and by their presence.

We have a detailed blog article on Waging Peace, with many photos taken by Mabel Leon and links to some campus opinion pieces. You can get details and wonderful visuals here.

Photo showing Andy Feffer, Mabel and Bertha from the Concordy

Photo, from the Concordy, showing Andy Feffer, Mabel and Bertha

Grannies for Peace at the April 22, 2015 Earth Day Celebration in West Capitol Park, Albany

Posted on April 27, 2015 by admin

Displaying our signs linking the Pentagon, war and military actions and climate destruction, Grannies for Peace and other members of Women Against War joined environmental allies for an hour stand near Capitol Park West.

Protect Mother Earth from Military Climate Change, photo by Mabel Leon

This was the brief description of the all day Earth Day celebration held on Wednesday, April 22nd in Albany:

Wednesday, April 22, 11 am. – 8 pm. Earth Day 2015, West Capitol Park, Albany. Energize Democracy Climate Justice Rally, Speakers- Music -Action. Organized by Frack Free Nation which would like you to sign up that you’ll be there:

Here was the invitation to our event: which lasted formally for just one hour but some of us attended more of the Earth Day celebration (see more photos at Frack Free Nation)

Wednesday, April 22, Noon – 1:00 pm, West Capitol Park, Albany. Join Women Against War & Grannies for Peace at the Earth Day 2015 Rally. We’ll be demonstrating with signs and banners protesting the US military: the world’s single biggest consumer of fossil fuels Maureen Aumand will be among the speakers.

Remarks by Maureen Aumand at Earth Day Events on April 22

Pentagon, World’s largest user of fossil fuel, Photo by Mabel Leon

Joan and Doreen, Protect Mother Earth, photo by Mabel Leon

Pat Beetle seated with one of Kim’s theme signs, photo by Mabel Leon

For many more of Mabel’s photos see our blog article on the Times Union website:

Today (4/28/15) I received a report from Joy First of NCNR about their Earth Day Pentagon action. It’s quite moving and I’ll link to it here.Letter on April 27 about NCNR actions
She also provided a link to some pictures of the arrests at the Pentagon.

Local demonstration to end the wars, Saturday March 21st from 1 PM to 2 PM, photos by Mabel Leon. With a Facebook link to other excellent photos by Jeanne Finley and Jon Flanders

Gallery

Posted on March 23, 2015 by admin

This gallery contains 17 photos.

Women Against War co-sponsored a local demonstration to support the national demonstrations, events and meetings in Washington DC.Those events took place from March 18th through March 21st. With the large demonstration held on March 21st. On March 21st, peace activists … Continue reading →

Times Union Reports on 3/16 performance of GROUNDED on stage at Capital Rep.

Posted on March 17, 2015 by admin

WAW In the News: Times Union Article on GROUNDED Performance

Roshni Online Reports on Nazila Fathi’s Speech in Albany

Posted on March 17, 2015 by admin

WAW In the News: Roshni Online Article- Nazila Fathi’s Speech in Albany

Women Against War and other Capital District Peace Groups join the Upstate Drone Coalition Lobbying Initiative during the week of February 2, 2015

Posted on February 5, 2015 by admin

The Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars organized a New York Statewide and Washington, DC lobbying initiative to the offices of our Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. We were originally going to visit both Senators offices on Monday, February 2, 2015, but the large snowstorm caused us to change our plans and to send two lobbyists, Hazel Landa and Joe Lombardo, to meet with Senator Schumer’s regional director, Steve Mann on Tuesday, February 3rd.

While they were meeting with Steve Mann they also delivered two information packets with requests and educational materials complete with talking points and references in several media forms. There was one from the Beyond Afghanistan/No Drones Project which you can read here:

New York Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars Lobbying Initiative

Since we had lobbied Senator Gillibrand about the issue of weaponized drones and presented an earlier version of the packet created by the Beyond Afghanistan/No Drones Project we decided to just deliver the Upstate Coalition packet to her regional director, David Connors with a request that he pass it on to legislative representative, Moran Banai That delivery is to take place on Friday afternoon, February 6th.

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer

There are digital links to all of the excellent articles, talking points and requests from the Upstate Drone Coalition, and especially the Reprieve report titled ““You Never Die Twice MULTIPLE KILLS IN THE US DRONE PROGRAM” and the very moving letter from Afghan, Raz Mohammed requesting that the U.S. courts protect his family and village from drone attacks. His brother-in-law and four of his friends were killed in a drone attack in 2013.

Raz speaks out on Drones

To see and read the entire Upstate Coalition Drone packet you can find links on their website You can follow each link individually to read an article or talking points as you wish.

Thanks to all of the Capital District peace and justice activists who prepared, planned and delivered our contribution to the Upstate Drone Coalition’s creative and organized lobbying initiative. And to their resilience in the face of a foot plus snowstorm from Sunday through all of Monday!

Joan, Mari and Trudy with Kim’s beautiful yin – yang drone- dove poster

The Drones Quilt Exhibit and Drone Replica has moved on and found a new home in the Hudson Valley

Posted on January 15, 2015 by admin

The Drones quilts exhibit has found a new home at the congregation of Chris Antal, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rock Tavern, NY in the Hudson Valley of New York. The five quilts and the drone replica created by Nick Mottern were all moved to the Hudson Valley on Wednesday night, November 19th after the annual dinner.

Front of the UUCRT building built in 2010

Chris Antal and Everett Cox, a Vietnam Veteran for Peace attended the dinner and the performance of Grounded and then loaded their vehicle with the quilts, quilt square making supplies, racks and dowels for exhibiting the quilts and the drone replica parts.

Reverend Chris and his family, some of whom made quilt squares at College of Saint Rose on Novemver 11th.

Reverend Chris and his family, some of whom made quilt squares at College of Saint Rose on November 11th.

Everett had arranged for the quilts to be seen at the Veteran Arts Showcase [of writers, poets, musicians and performers who are veterans, family members of veterans, or military connected.] Which was held at the FDR Presidential Library/Wallace Center on Route 9, Hyde Park, New York, November 21, 22 and 23.

Everett Cox, working with the Leaving Theatre Project.

The quilts and drone replica will be moved to the sanctuary of the UUCRT and will be featured at their December 6th craft fair. Then Chris will preach a sermon about drones on Sunday, December 7th.

Drone quilt displayed on a table at an earlier drones quilts exhibit by Veterans for Peace

Quilts and drone replica will remain at the UUCRT through January 19, 2015 and will be featured in several events during that time.

Ground the Drones Exhibits of the Drone Quilts was here in the Capital District from October 20th Through November 14th at Three Venues.

See all details at this link:

Ground the Drones brochure- edited

view of the Tableau before the Media Conference at Noon on October 20th at the LOB, photo by Connie Houde